Apparatus for grounding containers in the distribution of petroleum products



Sept. 21 1926. 1,600,549

L. D. JURS APPARATUS FOR GROUNDING CONTAINERS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 15, 1925 Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS D. JURS, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGN OR TO ASSOCIATED OIL COMPANY,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR G ROUNDING CONTAINERS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

Application filed January 15, 1923. Serial No. 612,831.

My invention relates to' means for establishlng electrical connection between two containers, 1 and from both to the ground,

during the transfer of an inflammable- 6 liquid .from one'such container to the other.

The object of my invention is to reduce thefire hazard in the distribution of inflammable, liquids, such for example as the lighter e-.

troleum derivatives, gasoline and engine istillate. In the conveyance and handling of such liquids, there is considerable danger from fire caused by electric sparks or discharges between slightly separated members of the distribution system which may have acquired static charges of different potential. Such char es may be formed'byv the friction of the owing liquid, or by other causes, and, unless led away by suitable,

conductors, ma increase to such values as to cause a spar at some dangerous point in the system, as for example between the noz-' zle of a fillingfhos'e and the tank which is be ing filled. If,'however, a continuous metallic path is provided, including the tank or 95 container being filled, the conveying conduit,

and the tank or container from which the,

. liquid is being drawn, and such path con-- I nected to earth, all electrical charge's'will be-dissipated as formed, and no dangerous '80 differences in potential can exist.

My invention will be hereinafter describedas applied to an apparatus for protection against static discharges during the filling of a drum or tank from a tank truck, I

but it is obvious that it may be applied without material change to any similar fluid transmitting system. Moreover, changes within the scope of the claims hereto appended, may be made in the form and con-- struction' of the apparatus as herein described, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

With this in viewmy invention will now be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein M Fig. l is aside elevation showing a preferred arrangement of the apparatus em-.- bodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the end of the hose and its coupling, and the nozzle in disassembled relation thereto.

Fig. 3 is asection on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the coupling and'nozzle in assembled relation.v

Fig. 4 is a bottom end view of the nozzle.

In the drawings, and referring for the momentto Fig. 1, the reference-numeral 1 designates the container of a tank truck, from which the liquid is to be drawn, and 2 is its discharge outlet or faucet. .3 is the connecting hose and 4 is the container "to be .filled, which may be either a loose movable drum, or as here shown,- a buried tank. The hose 3 1s provided with theusual metal couplings 5 at its ends, and has a metal rein-. forcement throughout its. length,here shown as an exterior helically Wound wire 6 applied in the usual manner. This wire 6 is soldered or otherwise joined, at its ends, to the couplings 5, to forma continuous electrical con nection between said couplings, one such soldered end of the wire 6 being shown at 7 in Fig.2.

The discharge nozzle 8, which is attached to the coupling eat the freeend of the hose 3, as shown in Fig. 3, and'which is adapted to be inserted into'the bung or filler hole 9 of thecontainer 4, is provided with three equally spaced longitudinal exterior ribs inclined and toothed as shown. Two of these ribs are solid as shown at 10 in Figs. '2, 3 and means of which it may be pressed inwardly.

When the nozzle 8 is inserted in the filler hole 9 of the container 4, the teeth of the ribs 10 and the spring pressed latch 12 engage the rim of said hole, as shown in Fig. '3, thus making a firm mechanical connection between said nozzle and said container, and thereby establishing electrical contact between them. The container 4 is'thus elect'rically connected with the truck tank 1. by a continuous metallic path consisting of the container 4, the nozzle 8, the coupling memher 5 secured thereto, the hose-reinforcing wire 6, the upper coupling member 5, the

faucet 2, and the tank 1, and the possibility of an electric spark between the nozzle 8 and the container 4 is eliminated. Incidentally, the nozzle8 is securely held in position in the filler hole of the container 4, to prevent spilling the liquid. To release said nozzle 8 from the container 4, it is only necessary to press the latch 12 inwardly, thereby freeing its teeth from the rim of the filler hole 9 and allowing said nozzle to be withdrawn.

When the container 4 is buried, as shown, the entire system is grounded. The tank 1 is preferably provided, however, with a drag chain 17, Fig. 1, one end being electrically connected with the frame of the truck, and the other end lying upon the ground. Thus the tank 1 is at all times grounded even though it be equipped with the usual rubber tired wheels, so that there can be no difference of electrical potential between said tank 1 and the container 4, even before the two are connected by the armored hose 3. Moreover, in case the container to be filled is placed above the ground and insulated therefrom, as by a wooden support, a ground connection for'such container is established by the armored hose 3, the tank 1, and the drag chain 17.

I claim 1. A nozzle for the. described purpose comprising a body adapted to be introduced into the filling aperture of a container; means for attaching said body to a conduit;

a longitudinally disposed rib formed upon one side of said body, said rib being provided with a series of teeth upon its outer surface, and increasing in height from the free end of said body toward the conduit attaching means; and a longitudinally disposed swinging latch member pivotally'cons nected with said body near the free end thereof and positioned substantially opposite said rib, said latch member having a series of teeth formed upon its outer surface and adapted to co-operate with said rib to engage the sides of the filling aperture.

2. A nozzle for the described purpose comprising a body adapted to be introduced into the filling aperture of a container; means for attaching said body to a conduit; a pair of longitudinally disposed ribs formed upon said body, said ribs being formed with series of teeth upon their outer surfaces, and increasing in height from the free end of said body toward the conduit attaching means, and a longitudinally disposed swinging latch member pivotally. connected with said body near the free end thereof, said latch member having a series of teeth formed upon its outer surface and adapted to cooperate with said ribs to engage the sides of the filling aperture, and said latch member and said ribs being substantially equally spaced about said body.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS D. J UB8. 

